When God Puts On A Spread

Frozen Waterfall near Idaho Springs, CO

We had our weekly home group meeting last Sunday evening.  I've started looking forward to those two hours as one of the highlights of my week, not only because I'm always encouraged and inspired by those in the group, but because I can see a real sense of unity and community growing between us.  Every so often at some point in the evening there will be one particular event - maybe a word, maybe a story - that grabs everyone's heart, and in the end that's all any of us will remember thereafter. There were two "memory maker" moments for me last Sunday.  The first one came when we were discussing the third sermon in Michael's "Unwrapping Christmas" series - this one on Mary's role in the Christmas story.  One of his points was that Mary was willing to give up her life plans (a wonderful wedding to Joseph, living in the warmth of family and friends, a peaceful life) to accept God's plans for her.  For Mary, God's plans included an "illegitimate" pregnancy (at least in the eyes of her community - I mean, how many woman are impregnated by God?), rejection by the community as a "loose" woman, starting off her marriage to Joseph as a pregnant woman,.... and the list goes on and on.  We wondered together what it must have been like for Mary to raise Jesus: what was His sense of humor like?  What was it like to watch Him as He slowly grasped His true identity as God's Son?  There's a song that I've always loved called "Mary do you know?" that describes so wonderfully the life that Mary lived as the earthly mother of God Himself.  None of us could remember the words, but I do remember how moved I was the first time I heard the song.  So while we talked I looked up the lyrics on the internet, and once more I was moved to tears as I read these words:

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Later, our conversation moved to God's goodness to us - His undeserved, unmerited love and compassion.  One of the women in our group shared an incredible story of how God takes care of us just because we're His "Kids".
She works six days a week - including the weekends - at the Veteran's Hospital in Denver.  Her expertise is in the area of Music Therapy, which simply put means using music and rhythm to help a patient through a difficult therapy.  On Thanksgiving day, the hospital made a turkey dinner for all the residents, but the paid staff had to settle for their brown bag lunches.  This fact really bothered me, that the VA can't even provide a Thanksgiving meal for their staff - they get to smell the Turkey and all the trimmings all day, and then be content with their sack lunch.  Anyway, as she left at the end of the day she decided that she would try to stop somewhere to buy a Thanksgiving dinner - maybe Denny's, or Perkins, or the like.  Then she remembered a great Italian restaurant right off I-70 and she just knew they could cook a truly gourmet dinner.  She figured out in her mind that she could spend up to $20 to treat herself since it was Thanksgiving.  The lights were on in the restaurant, so she pulled in the parking lot.  When she went inside she saw all the chairs stacked on the tables, and she realized it must be a private party.  A tall Italian man heard the front door and walked in.  My friend explained to him that she was looking for the "Best" Thanksgiving meal in town.  He told her that the restaurant was only open because he had gathered his friends and family together.  She turned and started to leave, but he stopped her and said, "How many did you want for?"  She said only for herself, because she'd had to work that day.  He said "Really?", then he took her arm and said, "Come with me."  He led her back into the kitchen, handed her two large take-away containers, and told her that he wanted her to go through their buffet line.  When she hesitated out of embarrassment, he smiled and said, "Come on!" and started piling her high with the most incredible, gourmet Thanksgiving meal she'd ever seen - six different kinds of stuffing, meats, exotic vegetables, incredible desserts.  She filled both containers.  He led her back to the front door and simply said, "Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!" 


She giggled all the way home and all through the night - that her Heavenly Papa saved the best Thanksgiving meal of all for her, just because He loves her. 


That's what I'm talking about! :)